Lafayette sports complex advances

OXFORD – The Lafayette County Board of Supervisors gave preliminary approval Monday to the commercial development of a sports complex several miles south of Oxford.
The sportsplex is designed for six soccer fields, nine baseball fields, one football field – all lighted – and buildings to house indoor practice areas, concessions and restrooms.
The development, headed by Michael Perry and Chuck Trost, will serve “competitive leagues” whose teams may come from several states and whose players are often far more serious than those in local recreational leagues.
“At least initially our goal is to have baseball, football and soccer, as well as a soccer academy for U8, primarily to teach kids the fundamentals,” Perry said. “We think down the road there’ll be a need for lacrosse.”
Trost said the facility will be home to the Mississippi Flood Futbol Club soccer team and added that an announcement about a home baseball team for the park is expected soon.
The complex will host soccer league tournaments in spring and fall, American football in its traditional fall season and baseball in spring, summer and fall leagues. Some fields will be ready for play by this fall, he added.
Ryland Sneed of Precision Engineering, said the project will likely be built in stages.
“They’re going to build sort of as-needed, letting the market let them know,” he said. “Parking will be built as the fields are added and the market dictates.”
Developers expect to receive state approvals soon.
Perry, Trost and others with an interest in competitive sports leagues decided to develop their own facility after league practices and tournaments couldn’t be accommodated at FNC Park, the 150-acre Oxford-Lafayette County sports complex on Old Sardis Road.
Supervisor Chad McLarty questioned whether lighted fields late at night will be a nuisance to neighbors in the rural area.
“Lights cost money to run,” County Engineer Larry Britt said, “so they will definitely be on timers and be cut off soon after practices are over.”
For more information, contact Trost at chucktrost@msfloodfc.com or (662) 801-3783.
errol.castens@journalinc.com